Artificial limb



Aug. 31, 1954 M. MCCORMICK ARTIFICIAL LIMB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.25, 1952 R m m w.

AT ORNEY;

Aug. 31, 1954 M. MCCORMICK ARTIFICIAL LIMB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.25, 1952 Way INVENTOR. MICHAEL Cox/wok M, @1214, We M ATTOR/VfKS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LIMBMichael McCormick, New York, N. Y. Application January 25, 1952, SerialNo. 268,285

Claims.

This invention relates to an artificial limb and more particularly to anartificial leg for use with legs amputated below the knee.

It is an object of my invention to provide an artificial leg which willsimulate the appearance and action of the normal leg.

Another object of my invention is to provide an easily attachableartificial leg which will aiford comfort to the wearer and ease of useand application so as to substantially duplicate the function of a reallimb of the wearer.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an artificial limbwhich will afford and simulate natural and balanced articulated movementof the ankle and tarsal and metatarsal portions of the foot.

One other object of my invention is to provide an economically andeasily constructed universal type of artificial leg which will avoidstrain on the wearer when the leg is worn and which will permit easyswing and movement of the body of the wearer during walking.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable readilyusable relatively comfortable artificial leg providing a flexiblespringy foot portion affording easy walking movement to the wearerthereof.

A specific object of my invention is to provide an artificial legcomprising a ventilated and well padded stump socket with lacing toadjust the leg to the thickness of the stump, a peg, an adjustable footfor the peg permitting lateral and longitudinal movement of the heelportion of the foot and aspring loaded toe joint to permit properbalance during walking and use of said leg.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of my invention asapplied to an amputated leg;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4- is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan bottom view taken of a support member in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a tool member used for relative adjustmentof the foot with the upper part of the embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a partly sectional view of another tool member and Fig. 9 is asectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar references denote likeparts throughout, I show an artificial leg I 0 provided with a stumpholding slip socket H, a peg [2, a spring movable foot I3 with a pivotaltoe joint l4 and a toe portion I5.

Said socket is preferably of leather l6 reinforced with a brace I! madeof suitable light material, such as aluminum. The socket simulates theupper of a leather lace boot and has a leather thong or lace I8extending through eyes is in the front part of the socket to permitadjustment of the leg stump therein, while at the same time allowing forventilation of the socket.

The inside of said socket is lined with any suitable soft, pressurerelieving, material I In such as cotton, felt, fur, quilt or corduroy inwhich the ribs may run longitudinally or horizontally. Such type ofliner extends over the socket II and may be of any desired thickness soas to reduce to a minimum the discomfort caused by the constant pressureof the stump against the socket.

Brace l1, as noted from the drawings, forms a frame and has its lowerportion rounded for connection and attachment in any suitable mannersuch as by means of screws 2| to peg I2 to form a rigid but lightweightunit. The brace is also provided with a harness 22 for attachment of theartificial leg to stump 20.

Peg I2 is made preferably of light but strong material such as wood orof plastic material and may be molded when produced in largedquantities. Furthermore, it is shaped to simulate a natural leg and maybe adjusted to size according to the height of the wearer.

Underneath said shank or peg is a member or plate having a centralopening 24 through which passes a screw bolt 25 screwed into or fixed tothe interior and the center of shank l2. It will be noted that said pegI2 is further provided with a plurality of equispaced openings orsockets 26, 21, 28 and 29 respectively, for accommodating the heads ofbolts 30, 3|, 32 and 33 respectively which pass through the respectiveopenings 34, 35, 36 and 31 of the plate 23 and through clover shapedopenings 39, 40, 4| and 42 respectively, of support member 43. Saidopenings 39, 40, 4| and 42 extend downwardly into concentric seats orsockets 39', 40,'4l' and 42', respectively, surrounding said bolts 30,3|, 32 and 33 respectively. Support member 43 is held firmly against pegl2 by means of bolt screw nut 41 which can be adjusted thereon in anysuitable manner but preferably with the tool shown in Fig. 8.

Bolts 30, 3 I, 32 and 33 extend downwardly from peg l2 into therespective openings 48, 49, and 5| of foot l3 and are held in relativelyfixed position by means of washers and nut members 3 52, 53, 54 and 55',respectively. Said foot I3 is also provided with an opening 55 intowhich can be passed tool 5% connecting with threaded end 56a foradjusting the compression on springs 43', M, 45 and 46, respectivelybetween the foot and the peg [2, so as to suit the convenience andcomfort of the wearer of the artificial leg. It will be.noted';that saidtoo'l 56. is provided with threaded 'socket end 5'! for connection-withthreaded end 56a of screw bolt 25, and with an adjustable rotatableplate 58 which will rest against the sole of foot [3 when thecompression of the springs is adjusted. In other words by the use ofthis tool any of the springs between the peg and the solecamber-regulated so that the desired springiness and balance in thedevice are afforded to the use of the leg. vOnce the proper adjustmentis ,made, washers and nut members 52,;.'53,r 5!3 and 55 are screwed intoposition andsocket wrench; 59 tightens the washer andnuts in positionasshown in Fig. 5. It is apparent that thetool 56 remains in connectionwith the threaded end 56a of screw bolt25 so as A closure plate'fifl isprovided in the sole of foot 3 to cover openingsor recesses 248,149,150and;5l, and is held inplace by means of screws Bl.

* As seen from, thedrawingssaid foot-'13 has a ,sufiiciently largerecess-B2 between the heel and instep to permit the desiredinsertion ofpeg I2 thereinto and-provide sufiicient vclearance for freedom ofrelative.,movement whether. swivel,

lateral or longitudinal of the foot and peg-.by

means of springmembers-432.144,:45, and .46.

Also, said foot. isprovided-at the recessed portions with protectiveshields;53 and 64 to prevent rubbing of socks and clothing of the weareragainst the movable. parts and thereby. prevent theirripping or tearing.

- From the foregoing description of my; invention takenin-zconjunctionwith my drawings,v it will be noted that I provide an artificial legwhich is comfortable to thewearer, iseasy to adjust .as to compressionwhen the-wearer putshisweight: on

the leg so that there. is attainednthe -.desired springiness between@thefoot and peg. portions of the leg. Furthermoreybynmy invention.there is relative; ease 'of movement. of thepegwithrespect be used oneither leg. stump thereby obviating the necessity of having a, right. orleft artificial leg.

While preferred embodiments of the. invention have hereinbeendescribed-and illustrated, it is to be understoodthat-modificationsasto-form, arrangement of parts and use of materialsmay be made without. departing from the spirit and scope of theinventionas-claimed.

What is claimed is:

,1 An artificial leg comprising aninner lined padded s0cket...portionfor a-natural; stump, an- ..chor means depending from. thesocket, aplurality of e ui paccd members depending ,fromthe endi soc e fasteningmeans lated socket portion a qthreaded anchor means r to keep, saidsprings under proper compression I while said nuts are tightened bysocket wrench 59.

and adapted to rest there socket said socket having recesses therein,compressible spring members around each of said equispaced membersdepending from the recesses of said socket, a foot member foraccommodating said equispaced members and holding the spring member inposition, said member having correfor the spring members, and forholding :the, foot member against the spring members.

2. An artificial leg comprising a padded ventiior a natural stump,depending from the longitudinal axis of the socket, a plurality ofequispaced members depending from the socket, com-"pressiblespring-members around each of said depending from the socketagainst, said spring members being disposed around said anchor means, arecessed foot member for accommodating. said equispaced members, and..for, holding the spring members in relatively vertiGaLposition, andfastening means in the foot; member for holding the foot member againstthe spring members, said spring members being independentlycompressible. to permit ,lateral,7;forward and rearward bending ofthesocket with respect to the foot member.

3. An artificial leg. comprising a padded-socket portion for a stump, a.peg connected to', the

equispaced members 1 stump, anchor means axiallyrextendingfrom the -peg,said .peg having. a .pluralityiofwupwardly holding adjustable 1 meansforholdingathe foot member extending-.recessesatherein, a plurality ofequispaced members. depending-incur: the-recessesoof said peg, springmembers around each-f said equispaced :members depending from the.,:peg, a foot member ..-hav jng acorresponding .recesses foraccommodatingsaid ,equispacedimembers; and the. spring membersinposition, and

against the springmembers.

4.An artificial leg accordingto claim 3, in which-the leg is providedwith a plate and support member having. a'pluralityrof.equispaced clovershaped openings therein for accommodating the anchor means and theequispaced members respectively,.

said;.equispacedmembers--riding in said openings.

5. An artificial leg wherein there is an all round i type ofrelativemotioncbetweenthe. foot and the stump thereof, comprisingasstump holder,

. removable means depending :from -.said.holder having a plurality of-equispaced openings Y and recesses therein,- adjustable-fixingsmeans:depending from the openings, afoot'member having aligned, correspondingopenings-andrecesses for said fiXingmeana-and a pluralityof=cornpressible spring members-surroundingeach ofthefixingmeans andaccommodated :between thereoessesof the--removable--= means- -and the:foot member whereby the holder and -foot portion can be relativelymovedin anarticulated manner simulating natural leg and foot motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

